As Heard on The Stephanie Miller Show

Saturday, November 29, 2008

The group that persuaded California voters this month to pass Proposition 8, which bans same-sex marriage, now is fighting its friends as well as its foes.

Other conservative groups that loudly backed Prop. 8 are being targeted as too extreme and off-putting by ProtectMarriage.com, which put the constitutional amendment on the Nov. 4 ballot and hopes to help persuade the state Supreme Court to uphold the measure.

"We represent the people who got things done, who got Prop. 8 passed," said Andrew Pugno, general counsel for the Yes on Prop. 8 campaign. "An important part of defending Prop. 8 is eliminating arguments not helpful to our concerns."

Pugno, for example, persuaded the Supreme Court last week to bar the Campaign for California Families from intervening in the court case over the validity of Prop. 8 and the same-sex marriage ban.

"That organization represents the extreme fringe and is not representative of the coalition that got it passed," Pugno said. "They didn't even support Prop. 8 until sometime in the summer."

People associated with the group didn't expect the Prop. 8 campaign's efforts to push them to the sidelines.

"I'm surprised, because we've litigated beside each other for 4 1/2 years" in the unsuccessful effort to keep the Supreme Court from overturning Prop. 22 same-sex marriage ban in 2000, said Mathew Staver, founder of Liberty Counsel, which represents the Campaign for California Families. "We have the same goal, which is to defend Prop. 8."

The group, now known as the Campaign for Children and Families, is run by Randy Thomasson, who for years has been one of California's most visible opponents of gay rights and what he bills as "the homosexual agenda."

The people behind Prop. 8 have been butting heads with Thomasson for years, arguing that his efforts to outlaw same-sex marriage and curb domestic partnership arrangements are a long step further than a majority of California voters is willing to go.

In 2005 and again in January, Thomasson and his allies proposed initiatives that not only would bar same-sex marriage but that also "voids or makes unenforceable" rights conferred by California law on couples, gay or heterosexual, registered as domestic partners, including community property, child custody, hospital visitation and insurance benefits.

"It was like the nuclear option to obliterate the entire domestic partners law," Pugno said. "We were constantly hassled by that organization, who thought we weren't aggressive enough."

Limiting the range of the ballot measure - and making a point to avoid direct attacks on gays, lesbians and same-sex couples during the campaign - made political sense for the Prop. 8 strategists.

Of the 31 "defense of marriage" measures that have gone on ballots across the nation, the only one that lost was a 2006 Arizona constitutional amendment that also would have banned legal recognition of many domestic partnership benefits. When Arizona groups put a measure on the Nov. 4 ballot aimed solely at barring same-sex marriage, it passed easily.

A Field Poll released in May showed that nearly a third of California voters opposed same-sex marriage, but still believed gay and lesbian couples should be allowed to have civil unions granting them the rights of married couples. Surveys done earlier this year by GOP pollsters also showed that any measure attacking domestic partnership rights had little or no chance of passing in California.

"We wanted to be singularly focused on defending and protecting marriage," Pugno said.

Different views

Policy disputes shouldn't spill over into public attacks, said Staver.

"The CCF originally had a version of the marriage amendment that was much larger and comprehensive, but they abandoned that and supported Prop. 8," he said. "Different people have different views. Moving in the same direction to protect marriage is more important than singing from the same song sheet."

But the disputes between the groups have grown in the past few days, with Thomasson launching an all-out attack against the Supreme Court for accepting the challenge to Prop. 8, a court decision Pugno and others from ProtectMarriage.com had welcomed.

"If the court disobeys the constitution by voiding Prop. 8, it will ignite a voter revolt," Thomasson said in statement released after the court agreed Wednesday to hear arguments over the validity of the constitutional amendment. "The court is playing with fire by threatening to destroy the people's vote on marriage."

Pugno and others from the Prop. 8 campaign want to avoid such fiery challenges and threats to the court and keep matters on a quiet legal level until the court rules on same-sex marriage sometime after March.

"What we are not doing is discussing the possibility of recalling justices who oppose us," Ron Prentice, chairman of the Yes on Prop. 8 effort, said in an e-mail to supporters Wednesday. "Making threats to recall justices from office is counterproductive and harmful to our chances of winning in court."

Fundraising, publicity

Money also is part of the dispute. While ProtectMarriage.com collected almost all of the nearly $40 million raised to back Prop. 8, Thomasson's group and others gathered money to support their own efforts to pass the same-sex marriage ban.

But Prentice argued that "some other groups are attempting to use the passage of Prop. 8 for fundraising and publicity purposes," and Pugno said his group had unsuccessfully tried to stop the groups from claiming they were part of the official Prop. 8 effort.

Ballot measures don't belong to anyone or any group, Staver argued for the Campaign for Children and Families.

"There were a lot of different organizations and people that supported Prop. 8, but not through the official campaign," he said. "Did we give money directly to them? No. But did we encourage people to support Prop. 8? Absolutely."

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

A Miami-Dade circuit judge decided Tuesday that a Florida man's sexual orientation should not preclude him from adopting his two foster children, effectively ruling unconstitutional a decades-old state law barring gays and lesbians from adopting children.

Judge Cindy Lederman, a child welfare judge, found that the state law has "no rational basis" and ruled that Frank Martin Gill, 47, should be entitled to adopt two young boys he has been fostering for the past four years, reports CBS station WFOR-TV in Miami. The Florida law, dating back to Anita Bryant's 1977 homophobic "Save Our Children" crusade, allowed gays and lesbians to foster children but prohibited them from adopting.

The two boys, who are now 4 and 8, had been living with abusive, crack-addicted parents and were removed from their home by the Department of Children and Family Services. Both the department and the attorney general support the state law blocking adoptions by gay people.

According to a statement from the pro-gay Family Equality Council, if the state supreme court takes action on the case and affirms the ruling, the law would be overturned.

"Judge Lederman's ruling is a long-overdue recognition of the equal ability of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people to raise happy, healthy families," said Jennifer Chrisler, executive director the Family Equality Council.

A study by the Family Equality Council found that more than 65,000 adopted children in the United States are being raised by gay and lesbian parents. Florida was the only state to expressly bar gay people from adopting. Arkansas voters recently passed a ballot measure to bar all unmarried couples from adopting or fostering children.

On Election Day, Florida was one of three states to pass a ban on same-sex marriage. Sixty-two percent of Florida voters cast ballots in favor of the ban. Two previously existing statutes in the state already prohibited same-sex marriage, including the statewide Defense of Marriage Act adopted in 1997. (Kerry Eleveld and Ross von Metzke, The Advocate)

The California Fair Political Practices Commission will investigate the Mormon Church's allegedly unreported contributions to the campaign to eliminate marriage equality in the state.

Independent group Californians Against Hate filed with the commission after Proposition 8 was passed on November 4, according to the Salt Lake Tribune. Organization leader Fred Karger charges that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints did not report investments in phone banking, direct mailers, transportation into California for out-of-state Mormon volunteers, commercials, video broadcasts, and a mobile speakers bureau.

Karger said this step by the commission is a good sign, since the commission takes on less than 5% of complaints. While Roman Porter, the commission's executive director, said the move isn't indicative of anything, he added that the church could be fined up to $5,000 per violation if found at fault.

Californians Against Hate calculated in October that LDS followers had contributed more than $24 million in support of gay marriage bans in California and Arizona.

The LDS Church says it has approximately 770,000 members in California, accounting for about 2% of the state's population. (Michelle Garcia, The Advocate)

Saturday, November 22, 2008

After I retired, my wife insisted that I accompany her on her trips to Wal-Mart. Unfortunately, like most men, I found shopping boring and preferred to get in and get out. Equally unfortunately, my wife is like most women - she loved to browse.

Yesterday, my dear wife received the following letter from the local Wal-Mart:

Dear Mrs. Samsel,

Over the past six months, your husband has been causing quite a commotion in our store. We cannot tolerate this behavior and have been forced to ban both of you from the store. Our complaints against Mr. Samsel are listed below and are documented by our video surveillance cameras.

1. June 15: Took 24 boxes of condoms and randomly put them in people's carts when they weren't looking.

2 . July 2: Set all the alarm clocks in Housewares to go off at 5- minute intervals.

3. July 7: Made a trail of tomato juice on the floor leading to the women's restroom.

4. July 19: Walked up to an employee and told her in an official voice, 'Code 3 in Housewares. Get on it right away. '

5. August 4: Went to the Service Desk and tried to put a bag of M&M's on layaway.

6. August 14: Moved a 'CAUTION - WET FLOOR' sign to a carpeted area.

7. August 15: Set up a tent in the camping department and told other shoppers he'd invite them in if they would bring pillows and blankets from the bedding department.

8. August 23: When a clerk asked if they could help him, he began crying and screamed, 'Why can't you people just leave me alone?'

9. September 4: Looked right into the security camera and used it as a mirror while he picked his nose.

10. September 10: While handling guns in the hunting department, he asked the clerk where the antidepressants were.

11. October 3: Darted around the store suspiciously while loudly humming the 'Mission Impossible' theme.

12. October 6: In the auto department, he practiced his 'Madonnalook' by using different sizes of funnels.

13. October 18: Hid in a clothing rack and when people browsed through, yelled 'PICK ME! PICK ME!'

14. October 21: When an announcement came over the loud speaker, he assumed a fetal position and screamed 'OH NO! IT'S THOSE VOICES AGAIN!'

And last, but not least,

15. October 23: Went into a fitting room, shut the door, waited awhile, then yelled very loudly, 'Hey! There's no toilet paper in here!'

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

WASHINGTON – A Democratic Congress, unwilling or unable to approve a $25 billion bailout for Detroit's Big Three, appears ready to punt the automakers' fate to a lame-duck Republican president.

Caught in the middle of a who-blinks-first standoff are countless manufacturing firms and auto dealers — and millions of Americans' jobs.

For now, with the plan headed for a roadblock in the Senate, lawmakers in both parties are engaged in a high-stakes game of chicken, positioning to blame each other for the failure.

"The Congress need do nothing" during its postelection session this week, Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., the majority leader, said Wednesday, although he also said he still hoped lawmakers could strike an elusive deal to carve $25 billion in new auto industry loans out of the $700 billion Wall Street rescue fund.

But it's really up to President George W. Bush's team to act, he said.

"If we can't do it here legislatively, I would hope that the secretary of Treasury would listen loud and clear, because they could take this into their own hands and do what I think is appropriate," the Democratic leader said.

Not our responsibility, countered the White House.

"If Congress leaves for a two-month vacation without having addressed this important issue ... then the Congress will bear responsibility for anything that happens in the next couple of months during their long vacation," said Dana Perino, the White House press secretary.

She said there was "no appetite" in the administration for using the financial industry bailout money to help auto companies.

The White House and congressional Republicans instead called on Democrats to sign on to a GOP plan to divert a $25 billion loan program created by Congress in September — designed to help the companies develop more fuel-efficient vehicles — to meet the auto giants' immediate financial needs.

GOP Sens. Kit Bond of Missouri and George V. Voinovich of Ohio were at work on that measure Wednesday, toiling to placate skeptical Democrats by including a guarantee that the fuel-efficiency loan fund would ultimately be replenished.

"It is the only proposal now being considered that has a chance of actually becoming law," said Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.

But there was little sign that Democratic leaders would go along. They are vehemently opposed to letting the car companies tap that money — set aside to help switch to vehicles that burn less gasoline — for short-term cash-flow needs.

All of which leaves the Big Three bracing for a bleak winter without government help. General Motors Corp. has said it could collapse within weeks, and there are indications that Chrysler LLC might not be far behind.

GM CEO Rick Wagoner told a House committee Wednesday that the downfall of his industry could lead to a loss of 3 million jobs within the first year and ripple through communities around the nation.

In sometimes contentious testimony, Wagoner was pressed on when GM would run out of money if the loans weren't extended.

He wouldn't say precisely, but disclosed that the company now was burning through "$5 billion each month."

Still, with the $25 billion emergency package, "we think we have a good shot to make it through this," Wagoner said.

Many lawmakers in both parties, however, are now openly discussing whether bankruptcy might be a better option for auto firms they regard as lumbering industrial dinosaurs that have done too little to adjust their products and work forces for the 21st century.

The carmakers argue that bankruptcy would devastate their companies, but proponents say it would give them a chance to reorganize and emerge stronger and more competitive.

It's unclear, though, whether Democrats controlling Congress are willing to risk being blamed for letting one of the Big Three — symbols of the nation's once-mighty manufacturing sector — go under.

Bailout-shy lawmakers got an earful from jittery constituents last month when the House let an early version of the Wall Street rescue fail, sending the Dow Jones industrials tumbling and erasing more than a trillion dollars in retirement savings and other investments. Congress took a deep breath and reconsidered, passing the plan a few days later.

Faced with a similar collapse in the auto industry, the Bush administration might yet decide to use its authority under the $700 billion financial industry bailout to help the auto companies, or the Federal Reserve could step in — though both have steadfastly refused to do so.

If not, lawmakers have left themselves a contingency plan: Come back to Washington in December for yet another postelection session where they might be able to strike the deal that now seems beyond reach.

Democratic leaders are planning to gather for an economic conference the week of Dec. 8, noted House Majority LeaderSteny H. Hoyer, D-Md.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Deny gays the right to be hitched. They'd lose, and they would crawl back in the holes the came from.....or in...depending.

Funny how things turned out. Gays are NOT being the obedient sodomites the Religious Wrong were hoping for. Thousands...possibly millions...took the streets on Saturday to protest proposition 8, a California constitutional amendment that stripped gays of the right to marry. On top of that, the NeoXians are not getting any help from the Republican Governor, who is supporting the gays' battle. Not to mention most of the state legislature and several communities.

And they're not finished. The next salvo is a "Day Without a Gay," asking gays, lesbians, transgenders, and bisexuals to forgo work for one day in protest.

As you can imagine, the H8ers are not to pleased.

Which brings me to this little bit from our No-Necked friend in Tupelo.

Form e-mail AFA's Donald Wildmon:

Dear Donald,

We have arrived at a most urgent time in history.

Some elected officials in California - the governor and a number oflegislators - have decided that the vote of the people means NOTHING.

Yes....when you pass a law that is pretty much illegal....

For reasons known only to them, they have indicated that they want the voteof the peopleconcerning Proposition 8 overturned.

So here's some education for your neck-less ass.

According to KABC-TV Legal Analyst Dean Johnson the issue for the court to decide is whether Prop 8 amends the constitution or revises it.

"If it's an amendment then it can be ratified by a majority vote of the voters. If on the other hand prop 8 is a revision then it requires a much more elaborate procedure," said Johnson.For starters, if the same-sex marriage ban is a revision of the constitution, the State Legislature would have to approve prop 8 by a two-thirds majority or call a constitutional convention.

And the question is Prop, a revision of the constitution, i.e. something so radical that it changes the very nature of the constitution.

This is Section One of the California Constitution:

SECTION 1. All people are by nature free and independent and have inalienable rights. Among these are enjoying and defending life and liberty, acquiring, possessing, and protecting property, and pursuing and obtaining safety, happiness, and privacy.

But, currently, Section 7.5 states:

SEC. 7.5. Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.

It is clear that Section 7.5 either violates or revises the constitution.

And to revise it, it would have to go through the legislature, which the backers of P8 did not.

Rev. No-Neck continuuuuuuuues........

To date, 44 legislators as well as the governor are petitioning the CaliforniaSupreme Court to declare Proposition 8 unconstitutional. Although I fail to seehow something that is in the constitution can be unconstitutional, this is whatthey are advocating nevertheless.

Because, pinhead, you did not follow procedure.

I have never-EVER-witnessed such blatant disdain from elected officials towardsa majority of their constituents as is the case concerning the sanctity ofmarriage.

Are we channeling Strother Martin, here, dude?

What we must do is to let our voices be heard-NOW.

I am not suggesting we should take to the streets as the marriageopponents are currently doing. We must make our voices be heard directly byevery legislator in California - both in the Assembly and in the Senate - aswell as by the governor. We have voted on this issue-TWICE-and it is high timethe government of the people, by the people, and for the people be restored TOthe people.

Or else, what? Force the Governor to watch continued showings of "Jingle All the Way?"

You have used the same lame excuses that various and sundry bigots.....and you are bigots....have used to prop up slavery, miscegenation, segregation, and some of the current racism disguised as our lust for protecting our borders.

But not only that, as we have pointed out before, the campaign to pass P8 was built on lies and truth-bending. You knew damned well that the people of California would never take away a right, so you put fear in thier hearts.....fear that "homosexuality will be taught in the schools!" But ANY talk of marriage would come in comphrensive sex education which is (A) voluntary and (B) you probably oppose anyway.

What you are afraid of is the change that is coming. Along with the finacincial changes will come social and, yes, sexual changes. These changes will be as game-changing as those in the 50's and, as they were, these are inevitable.

And that includes the right for people to marry whoever they want.

You can stomp and moan and throw a tantrum all you wish. The flood that will overtake you will be as massive as that which destroyed the dinosaurs.

Friday, November 14, 2008

The American Family Association of Tupelo, MS, headed by Donald Wildmon, is one of the organizations that was at the forefront of the recent gay marriage tragedy in California. This is a diabolical organization that has used the treat of boycott to censor television, and try to stop good companies from supporting diversity and equality for non-heterosexuals in America.

Their latest target is Pepsico, which includes the Pepsi, Frito-Lay, Tropicana, and Quaker Oat/Gatorade brands.

This from a recent AFA mailing.

November 14, 2008

Dear Donald,

Pepsi has given Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) a half-million dollars to help push the homosexual agenda in the workplace. PFLAG is a political advocacy group that promotes radical homosexual political causes like same-sex marriage, hate-crime laws, and gay adoption.

Pepsi has a long tradition of financial support for homosexual groups. According to Jacqueline Millan, director of PepsiCo Corporate Contributions, "We are delighted to continue our partnership with PFLAG...(in) promoting the necessary message of inclusion to untapped groups...and that is a crucial step toward building a healthy working environment."

Despite the fact that 30 states have passed constitutional amendments defining marriage as being between a man and a woman, Pepsi continues to support the efforts by same-sex groups pushing for homosexual marriage. AFA wrote Pepsi on October 14 and again on October 29 asking the company to remain neutral in the culture war.

Pepsi didn't care enough to respond to the AFA letters. (yayyyyyyyy!)

Pepsi's lack of response indicates the company plans to continue support for the homosexual agenda.

We must respond to this immediately We are now beginning to realize that this war for equality and freedom must be fought by counteracting thier scare tactics.

First, DO contact Ms Nooyi, but THANK HER for supporting P-FLAG and encourage her, both corporately and personally, to continue that support.

Second, call the Pepsi numbers show above to also thank them for the support and encourage them to continue. Also let them know that the more they SUPPORT groups like P-FLAG, the more likely you will enjoy Pepsico products.

Third, pass this along to others, and encourage them to do the same...and immediately.

Many of us have stood by the sidelines of this too long. The results of that inaction are clear, if you witness the outcome of Prop. 8 in California. The main goal of people like Wildmon and the AFA is a United States (and eventually, the world) under a monolithic theocracy based on a highly skewed interpretation of the Bible.

People should be free to choose their own path. Donald Wildmon and his AFA minions do not believe that. That is why, starting now, they must be halted and frustrated at every turn. Starting here. Starting now.

Monday, November 10, 2008

I’m sure all would agree that with the election of Barack Obama, this week has been one of amazing wins in the world of equality! Still, Tuesday night was one of bitter-sweet celebration, as we came together to witness the first black man who will become our president, and watched in sadness as Florida, Arizona, Arkansas, and California all voted down equal rights for all citizens. Pendants and bloggers alike have put their focus on Proposition 8, trying hard to find an explanation for the anti-gay wins in the face of a huge pro-equality event. Some have blamed the voters, others blame religious groups, and even others blame the LGBTQ community for not being able to mobilize on a larger enough scale. And you know what, there is truth in every argument.

As a community, we have to admit to the fact that we are polarized in various ways. Honestly, I’m not sure what community isn’t and I believe that our polarization is proof to our humanity - we are no different than anyone else, regardless of color, creed, or sexual orientation. Still, our polarization has hindered us from mobalizing as one strong voice. We all come together in the month of June to celebrate Gay Pride, but few of us are even aware of why Gay Pride exists. Gay Pride is a celebration to commemorate the Stonewall Riots of 1969. Many say that the Gay Rights Movement began in 1969, which means that we are still a young movement and have accomplished a great deal in such a short amount of time. The generation that fought for us in 1969 deserves our gratitude and respect. This is a generation of amazing people who fought for our ability to hold hands in the street, to speak out against hate, to dance to our own “thumpa thump”, witness television shows with a queer cast, and come together in the streets celebrating for an entire month! This is the generation that opened the doors for us to even have a conversation about gay marriage, and this is the generation that deserves our help and our voices now. On June 27th, 1969, this generation came together in protest, jumping from closets, taking to the streets, and mobilizing in ways this country had never seen before! And what happened? The country was forced to respond. The Queer identity was forced onto the front pages and coffee tables of people’s worlds and people had to once and for all accept that we are human too!

Now, almost 40 years later we NEED to come together again. We need to show this nation that we are ONE LOUD VOICE THAT DEMANDS TO BE HEARD! We need to be one organized unit. Our gay pride shouldn’t be something we celebrate one month out of the year. Our gratitude towards the ones who came before us shouldn’t be ignored and wasted away with one party after another. We beg to be given a right that requires responsibility and commitment, yet we, as one strong community, have not proven to this nation that we deserve to be taken seriously! The gay pride parade has become a great party, but it has lost the memory of Stonewall and therefor given the nation another reason to cast us aside as irresponsible. It’s time we come together for debate, for public recognition, and for LOVE! Let’s move as one full unit, on the same day, at the same hour, and let’s show the United States of America that we too are UNITED CITIZENS EQAUL IN MIND, BODY, SPIRIT AND DESERVING OF FULL EQUALITY UNDER THE LAW!

On the steps of your City Hall on November 15th at 10:30am PST / 1:30pm EST, our community WILL take to the streets and speak out against Proposition 8 and all of the other pro-equality losses that we have faced in our lifetimes, in our parents’ lifetimes, and for many generations before us. WE CAN’T DO THIS ALONE! WE NEED YOUR HELP! We need organizers in every major city to work with us and get out the protest! I know you’re all tired from all of the work you’ve done for this great election year, but I’m asking for one more push! Let the country hear our voices together. Let them see that we are a strong, adamant, and powerful community that deserves equal rights, and CAN’T BE DEFEATED!

Send this post to everyone! We have one week and must react to the pro-hate votes cast against us! Let’s help our LGBTQ friends, families, neighbors, and each other to IMPACT this country with a demand for our basic human rights! Join the cause, join the voice, and JOIN THE IMPACT!

Singer Melissa Etheridge is getting a lot of mileage out of her angry promise to withhold taxes from the state of California after the passage of Proposition 8, a constitutional amendment denying recognition to same-sex marriages of the sort briefly allowed after a state supreme court decision earlier this year. Her anger is understandable, since the constitutional change leaves her marriage to Tammy Lynn Michaels in legal limbo as people wait for the courts to hash out the impact on thousands of existing gay and lesbian marriages.

"Okay. So Prop 8 passed. Alright, I get it. 51% of you think that I am a second class citizen. Alright then. So my wife, uh I mean, roommate? Girlfriend? Special lady friend? You are gonna have to help me here because I am not sure what to call her now. Anyways, she and I are not allowed the same right under the state constitution as any other citizen. Okay, so I am taking that to mean I do not have to pay my state taxes because I am not a full citizen. I mean that would just be wrong, to make someone pay taxes and not give them the same rights, sounds sort of like that taxation without representation thing from the history books."

No doubt, Etheridge penned her words in a rage and could probably be forgiven were she to reconsider and step back from her threat. After all, governments are capable of forgiving almost anything except challenges to their flow of revenue. Nothing gets officials to reach for the battering rams and handcuffs with greater enthusiasm than a tax case.

You could see this coming, and this is what I'm talking about when you ignore the elephant in the room. Rod McCullom of Rod 2.0 blogs reports on the escalation of the "blame the blacks" meme that has been swirling about the blogosphere and the MSM.

Geoffrey, a student at UCLA and regular Rod 2.0 reader, joined the massive protest outside the Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Westwood. Geoffrey was called the n-word at least twice.

SACRAMENTO - As protesters took to the streets for a fifth day, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger yesterday expressed hope that the California Supreme Court would overturn Proposition 8, the ballot initiative that outlawed same-sex marriage.

In an interview with CNN, Schwarzenegger also predicted that the 18,000 gay and lesbian couples who have wed already would not see their marriages nullified by the initiative.

"It's unfortunate, obviously, but it's not the end," he said about the same-sex marriage ban. "I think that we will again maybe undo that, if the court is willing to do that, and then move forward from there and again lead in that area."

With his favorable comments toward gay marriage, Schwarzenegger's thinking appears to have evolved.

In past statements, he has said he believes marriage should be between a man and a woman and he has rejected legislation authorizing same-sex marriage. Yet he also has said he would not care if same-sex marriage were legal, saying he believed that such an important societal issue should be determined by the voters or the courts.

Schwarzenegger publicly opposed Proposition 8, which amends the state Constitution to declare that "only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California."

Yesterday, he urged backers of gay marriage to follow the lesson he learned as a bodybuilder trying to lift weights that at first were too heavy for him. "I learned that you should never, ever give up. . . . They should never give up. They should be on it and on it until they get it done."

Saturday, November 08, 2008

The late 2007 shocking documentary of Pastor Fred Phelps, the Westboro Baptist Church, those who oppose it and those family members who chose to leave it all behind.

One last thing. This may offend you, but at least, with the Phelps' they are up front with thier phobias. They are hateful people, and the real God will deal with them at the appointed time. But they have influence, influence that caused a great state to go backwards. To fight them, we cannot ignore them.

And when you know your enemy, that is when they can, and will, be defeated.

Religious erotophobes nationwide are starting to feel the heat brought on by the passage of Proposition 8 in California. The amnedment to the states constitution relegates marriage to only a union between a male and a female, shutting out same-sex unions.

But instead of victory, those who allowed themselves to be swayed by a series of half-truths and outright lies are feeling a firestorm of rage by people who will not just sit docily and allow thier rights to evaporate.

In short, payback IS, indeed, a mutherf*cker.

In the land of Brigaham Young, non-hetosexuals and thier supporters are protesting the LDS Church as co-conspiritors in this travesty:

Opponents of a measure that banned gay marriage in California took their outrage to the spiritual hub of Mormonism on Friday. More than 3,000 people swarmed downtown Salt Lake City to march past the LDS temple and church headquarters, protesting Mormon involvement in the campaign for California's Proposition 8. The measure, which defined marriage as exclusively between a man and a woman, passed this week. A sea of signs in City Creek Park, where the march began, screamed out messages including, "I didn't vote on your marriage," "Mormons once persecuted . . . Now persecutors," and "Jesus said love everyone." Others read, "Proud of my two moms" and "Protect traditional marriage. Ban divorce." Former Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson and three openly gay state legislators, Sen. Scott McCoy and Reps. Jackie Biskupski and Christine Johnson, spoke out in support. At one point, the crowd took up the mantra made famous by the country's new president-elect: "Yes, we can!" Then, the masses headed west, weaving between cars, waving at those who watched from windows in the LDS Church Office Building and shouting chants such as: "What do we want? Equality! When do we want it? Now!" Across the street on North Temple, a group of about 50 - the majority not LDS members - defended the church's support of the successful ballot measure. "The people voted," they shouted at the protesters. "YOU are intolerant!" Others screamed: "Marriage is between a man and woman. You'll never be a man and woman!" Some marchers offered heated arguments to the counterprotesters, others responded by kissing their partners. The romantic moments were greeted with cheers. Full story here: http://www.sltrib.com/portlet/article/html/fragments/print_article.jsp?articleId=10929992&siteId=297

Head of Focus-on-the-Freaks....errrrrr.....Family, James Dobson, also has blood on his hands for this....about $800,000 worth, which his group donated for the cause.

Now tonight (11/8) he is being inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame, an organization which, like so many others, seems to have been co-opted by the Clear Channel/Salem wing of the business. Dobson will be there to accept. And he'll have company....

CHICAGO - Focus on the Family's James Dobson spent $800,000 on Proposition 8 to stop gay people form marrying in California. Tonight, this dangerous ideologue will be inducted into the Museum of Broadcast Communication's Radio Hall of Fame in Chicago.

He will be met with a protest from outraged gay organizations at 5:30 PM this evening, November 8, outside of the Renaissance Chicago Hotel, 1 W. Wacker Drive (corner of Wacker & State).

"It is mind-blowing, that the Radio Hall of Fame would honor a primary leader of Proposition 8," said Wayne Besen, Executive Director of Truth Wins Out. "Dobson put his Media Empire and vast amounts of money into the service of denying equal marriage rights for same-sex couples. And, the Radio Hall of Fame reacts disgracefully by giving this demagogue a trophy."

"If Dobson had helped organize and fund a campaign to take away African American voting rights, he would be properly shunned as a hater,'" said Bob Schwartz of the Gay Liberation Network. "However, because the Museum of Broadcast Communications has chosen instead to honor Dobson, they apparently think it's okay to promote those who publicly organize discrimination against gays."

It is ironic that the Museum will be honoring a promoter of hate like Dobson, while at the same time many mourn the recent passing of journalistic legend Studs Turkel, whom the Museum never got around to honoring.

The campaign against the honoring of Dobson was initiated by the Gay Liberation Network (www.GayLiberation.net) and Truth Wins Out (www.TruthWinsOut.com and www.DumpDobson.com), and endorsed by dozens of groups and individuals signing on to a series of full-page protest signature advertisements.

And as protesters filled the streets in San Francsisco, Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Palm Springs, the city of Santa Cruz, CA may be taking a more forceful tact:

SANTA CRUZ -- City leaders could be joining other cities around the state in a lawsuit to challenge the passage of Proposition 8 -- the successful measure that took away the right of same-sex couples to marry -- on the grounds the measure is unconstitutional.

"It's an important issue and the city needs to play a role," said Mayor Ryan Coonerty, who hopes to bring the proposal before the City Council at its Nov. 25 meeting.

Coonerty said he was especially motivated to bring the issue up after hastily marrying gay couples last weekend and on Election Day that were worried they would not have the right to wed much longer.

"It's shocking that people are forced into these situations, where they're rushing to get married because they don't know what their legal status will be," Coonerty said. "It's shameful."

Voters on Tuesday overturned this year's state Supreme Court ruling that made gay marriage possible. Proposition 8 amends California's Constitution to define marriage as between a woman and a man.

Coonerty said the city would likely join a suit with leaders in San Francisco to argue that the proposition was illegal because it took away a fundamental constitutional right from a select group of people. Before such propositions can go to the ballot, supporters allege, the state Legislature must approve them. That did not happen. Full story here: http://www.mercurynews.com/centralcoast/ci_10934458

But what is really astonishing is the fact that those who voted yes on 8 really believed that those who had thier rights stolen would simply just crawl back into thier caves and leave us good 'phobes alone. Whites in Mississippi circa 1964 had that same idea. That was a crock then and it is now. To whit.....

Prop. 8 backers have been writing...to say they have been shocked at the vehemence of the reaction to their "Yes on Prop. 8" yard signs and bumper stickers. A woman, who asked to be identified as "Kathy in Pleasanton," because she fears retaliation, detailed a list of encounters.

"I've had eggs thrown at me, been accused of being a homophobe, and was even tailgated home from the Oakland airport (all the way to Pleasanton) by a man who cornered my car and screamed at me because of our 'Yes on 8' bumper sticker," she said. "I'm a small woman, it was late at night, so this was very frightening."

Ahhhh, Kathy.....maybe the reason you were being treated like a homophobe is, well.....YOU ARE A HOMOPHOBE!

Look, I do not want violence, and people should be left alone, but those who voted for this, and those who propogated the lies that lead to its passage have to realize the firestorm that is hitting you is one of your own making. People have simply had it with the mob trying to force thier standards and so-called morals on them.

And you know what you are fighting. First you nullify gays, lesbians, and bisexuals. Porn people are next, then the fetish folk, the swingers, others outside the norm. The finally the Grand Prize, those so-called normal people who happen to have sex outside of marriage, either by affair or committment, and finally those committed, monogamous people who commit the sin of having sex for purposes other than repopulating the race. Your main goal is to control the behavior of every living being on the planet

So now, we know the stakes. Total freedom or total enslavement. Tuesday was thier Pearl Harbor. But now all of us have to decide which side we will be on. There is not equivication. It is all or nothing. I choose freedom. And woe to those who chose the side of enslavement on Tuesday...and especially those whose lies pushed it through. Tuesday was not the end.....but the beginning.

Friday, November 07, 2008

I am reminded of the Stonewall Inn Riots of 1969. As I said last night, this is the beginning of a new movement. The election of Barack Obama was an historic night, and it swelled me with pride, but it was deflated when I saw and realized exactly how much we have to go to get to total freedom.

Here is a sample of what has been going on in Los Angeles the last few days.

You just do not take a persons rights away. And unlike the straight population, these people outside the norm are not sitting down and taking it.

This is video from KPIX in SF about a protest in Sacramento

And this from Melissa Ethridge, who married Tammy Lynn Micheals 5 years ago:

How mad is Melissa Etheridge about California's rejection of gay marriage? Mad enough to withhold her taxes.

The rocker, married five years to actress Tammy Lynn Michaels, posted a fiery blog Thursday about the passage of Proposition 8, which limits marriage to heterosexual couples.

"I am taking that to mean I do not have to pay my state taxes because I am not a full citizen," Etheridge wrote at thedaily beast.com. "I mean, that would just be wrong, to make someone pay taxes and not give them the same rights."

The idea, she wrote, also could extend to other gay Californians: "I am sure Ellen [DeGeneres] will be a little excited to keep her bazillion bucks that she pays in taxes too."

Saturday, November 01, 2008

John McCain’s presidential running mate Sarah Palin, much to the bewilderment of the 9/11 truth community, seemingly expressed support for a new investigation into the terrorist attacks during a rally in Ohio last week.

Asked by We Are Change Ohio, “Do you support the family members and first responders who are calling for a new 9/11 investigation?,” Palin responded, “I do.” “I do because I think that helps us get to the point of never again, and if anything that we could do could still complete that reminder out there,” the Alaska Governor added.

Palin was aware of the context because she then asked the cameraman if he had been affected by 9/11. Of course, one would have to be incredibly naive to think that Palin, at best a befuddled Republican poster child and at worst another establishment Neo-Con, would follow through on her support and back a new 9/11 investigation should John McCain snatch victory from the jaws of defeat and take the White House.

And despite the fact that John McCain himself once gladly posed with 9/11 truth activists for photographs, the Arizona Senator penned a scathing foreword to Popular Mechanics’ (non-political, they assure us) hit piece book Debunking 9/11 Myths, in which he claimed that questioning the official 9/11 story is an insult to the victims, despite the fact that the victims and first responders are the ones calling for a new investigation. For most people, Palin’s expression of support for a new investigation seems to be borne out of a desperate attempt to say anything to get votes as McCain slips further behind Obama in the polls on a daily basis with the election just five days away. Other politicians who have been confronted on 9/11 by chapters of We Are Change have either ignored the question altogether, or in the case of Bill Clinton, gone on the offensive and verbally scorned 9/11 truth activists.